Exclusive
interview con El Padrino, de conjunto is life, 2012.
Cchwnn.
Southside
San Antonio,tejas. Hello mi raza Santa Cecilia la que te canta con on the road
again interviews. This week our bicycle takes us to southside to meet up con
ese vato El Padrino, con conjunto is life, now let us get to that
interview:
Sc:
como esta Padrino, can you give me a hand off this bicycle sir?
EP;
Simón, nice yonka homie!
SC:
first of all sir how long have you been en la onda tejana como musican?
EP:Well
I started off in the early 90's when the Tejano industry was strong and there
were alot of groups forming and being signed by major labels. A friend of mine
wanted to join the bandwagon so we started a group called "Los
Padrez", we released one CD in 1996 called "Que Padre" under the
Manny Music Label. I played accordion, my teacher back then was legend Valerio
Longoria. By the late 90's things slowed down alot so we just kind of let it
die, but then in the early 2000's my compadre Juan Santillan (who used to sing
with Los Padrez) and I would get together because he was learning the Bajo
Sexto, and we shared a love for traditional CONJUNTO music. We would just jam,
and then in 2005 we decided to start a Conjunto band called "Los
Padrinos", and we have been doing that ever since, gracias a Dios. You can also visit www.conjuntolospadrinos.com
for more info! Órale!
SC: how
did conjunto is life come about?
EP: My
compadre Jesús told me about a website where you can create social networks, I
thought it was a cool idea, and since I loved playing with the computer and I
loved CONJUNTO music, I decided to create one that was all about CONJUNTO. I
had seen t-shirts in the past that said things like "Golf is Life",
or "Baseball is Life", so I decided to make a social network called
"Conjunto is Life"! I bought the domain www.conjuntoislife.com and the rest is history!
Sc: do
you think that tejano is dying?
EP: I
guess it depends on what you mean by "Tejano" and what you mean by
"dying". I think the Tejano music industry has pretty much collapsed
compared to where it was when I started (late '80's early '90s). That is not a
bad thing, because I think some groups began losing sight of the culture and
our roots and were focused on popularity and acting stupid. Joe Lopez y Mazz at
one point didn't bother to show up to gigs if they did not like the numbers of
fans. Bands thought they could make a
living with music but only a few are able to really survive on gig money.
Many
bands charged a lot of money, the money is not there anymore, at least not in
San Antonio. "Tejano" music is not dead especially in its ORIGINAL
form, which is CONJUNTO. CONJUNTO is not really an industry, it is roots, and
soul music. It is the original folk music of Texas, puro corazón. There are
many diehard CONJUNTO fans, because this is our music, it is a reflection of
the hard life our people suffered in trying to make a living here in the US.
Working in la pisca, was one of the major influences of CONJUNTO, it is
something we should be proud of. We don't need anyone trying to create a market
for CONJUNTO, you either like it or you don't. You either feel it, or you
don't.
"Tejano
Industry" music owes much to CONJUNTO music. I also serve on the board of
the Conjunto Heritage Taller in San Antonio, and let me tell you we have not
had a shortage of students - and most are under 35 years of age. Squeeze box
music is alive and well, just visit the Tejano Conjunto Festival here in San
Anto and you will see for yourself!
SC:
what do you think makes conjunto is life to many tejano fans and bands?
EP:
Three words. CONJUNTO, CONJUNTO, CONJUNTO. It is all about our cultura, it is
simple music played con puro corazón. It connects us to our past, our history.
It is a window that touches our soul. Many "Tejano Industry" websites
have come and gone, but Conjunto is Life continues to grow because people are
passionate about our musica alegre, there is no other feeling most people get
when they hear an accordion and a bajo sexto. We do not try to promote only the
music but also the culture behind the music. Our homies on Conjunto is life, are all Conjunto 4 life! As my friend Arturo
Balderrama says "Can you imagine a world without PURO CONJUNTO? Gracias a
Diosito we have CONJUNTO music!
SC: how
has la onda changed since you were involved?
EP:
People used to gather in big numbers to promote "Tejano Industry"
music, which was really just Onda Chicana music, with brass and keyboards and
no accordion. Later Mazz and others got smart and added the accordion. Now, you
HAVE TO HAVE the accordion - even Little Joe said so! Luckily bands like Los
Chamacos, Los Aguilares, and the Hometown boys helped keep Conjunto on
mainstream "Tejano Industry" radio.
I think we are a bit spoiled here in that we
don't like to pay too much for live music, so many bands go outside Texas to
make good money. Look at what is going on in Germany, Japan, the Netherlands,
etc people are crazy about CONJUNTO. There is no big money for most bands most
of us do it cause we enjoy it, some bands limit themselves to what they know -
small gigs, bars, cantinas, etc. Others have traveled overseas, got involved
with social media, and are helping to promote our musica world wide. Technology
is a great way to promote our music. We did not have that in the 90's. Now
bands can produce their own CDs, they do not have to wait for a label to pick
them up.
SC: why
do think que many tejanos think que la onda tejana is only for us, tejanos and
not so much for los mexicanos?
EP:
That is one of the difficult aspects to address. I am proud to be Tejano, I am
also proud of my grandparents from Guanajuato crossing into Texas in 1917 to
make a better life. I do not discount my Mexican roots, it is just that the
music I was raised with was CONJUNTO - Texas music - THE Tejano music. I love
Mariachi music, but no music touches my heart more than CONJUNTO. Not only
that, it has to have accordion and bajo sexto, otherwise I turn it off.
"Tejano Industy" music does nothing
for me, and most of our members agree. There are many Mexicanos who enjoy
"Tejano Industry" music and Conjunto music, I think that is great,
but unless you know the story behind it , it is just nice music. We always need
to tell OUR story, in Tex-Mex, which is OUR language. I understand that money
is what pushes things, it just so happens that people who are away from their
home country will pay big bucks to hear bands from Mexico, just like if I am a
Tejano living in Canada, I would pay big bucks to hear Los Dos Gilbertos if
they come to my town. It is the same thing. We need to be necios about Conjunto
music. Mickey Mendoza and Arturo Balderrama are big promoters of that, and I
hope CONJUNTO fans are listening!
SC: i
noticed on your website you have el rancho alegia radio, how did you work that
out ?
EP: I
approached Rancho Alegre to
provide a music player for our home page (El Cantón) I heard their music on
their website, and I just asked that they provide puro CONJUNTO music.. They
agreed since they also LOVE CONJUNTO music and have provided a great service
for our members (homies). People have given a very positive response to the
music. We now offer a music player for everyone, so all members can add their
own music on their own pages!
Sc;
what is in the future of conjunto is life?
EP:
Wow, I would like to have live events sponsored by Conjunto is Life, I
would like to offer our membership network to any non-profit who teaches, or
promotes Conjunto music (Texas
Folklife, Conjunto
Heritage Taller, STCA, GCAC, NPCMA, etc) We need to work together, all
bringing our different approaches but the same love of CONJUNTO music. Juan
Tejeda said it best in a comment he wrote that we need to come together more
than ever these days. That is true, sometimes there are egos that can get in
the way, and sometimes that hinders us from being able to go forward.
My hope
is that Conjunto is Life, will help promote and preserve CONJUNTO music
for the next generations. I think it is great that people of all ages are
getting into CONJUNTO Music, even youth are playing the squeezebox and forming
bands. I will continue to use technology to promote CONJUNTO music and
hopefully have some influence in that department.
SC; now
Martin how about your muscial career sir, do you do much traveling con your
band?
EP: We
do not play very often but we have been blessed to play at some great venues,
we are focusing right now on our 3rd CD. We enjoy venues where people
appreciate, and want to learn more about CONJUNTO music. The band Los Padrinos,
grew out of a love for CONJUNTO music, just like Conjunto is Life, the band is
having fun just jamming and having a good time. As we say, the 3 most important
things in life: Fe, Familia, y Tradición!
Sc; if
you had the chance to speak to a group of young people what encouraging words
would you tell them?
EP: I
would tell them my own story, and fit it into the big story of Tejano history.
I would not sugar coat the suffering many of our people experienced, I would
give them a sense of what their ancestors went through, and how it should
influence who we are today. I would explain why CONJUNTO music is not just any
other folk music. I would want to instill in them pride in their roots, pride
in their community, and pride in their history!
SC; and
finally my friend what would you like to share with the world about yourself
and conjunto is life?
MM: I
have said a lot already...my real name is Martín de Jesús Martínez, born and
raised in South Side San Anto, I am an educator and hope that my kids follow my
love for our cultura. I hope everyone visits www.conjuntoislife.com. Hope to meet all of you
soon! Dále Shine!
SC:
well thanks again, sir can you help me on this bicycle and tell me how to get
out of westside and onto the freeway?
MM: Sorry
you have to leave so soon, just go up to that low rider next to the mural of
Our Lady of Guadalupe and turn right, as soon as you pass Alfaro's Bail Bonds
it is just over the train tracks...Peace
SC:hejola
maybe next. nombre raza when will tejano die? Chinga never, i am santa cecilia
la que te canta.
